Wallace N. “Wally” Houle, 84, Clearwater

December 9, 1931 - December 20, 2015

Wallace Noel Houle (Wally), passed away on December 20th at Quiet Oaks Hospice Home in St. Augusta, Minnesota. He was born on December 9, 1931 in Ripley Township, Morrison County to Adelore and Marie Houle. His siblings were, Larry Houle, Loucille Hlad, Clarice Welle, and Irene Fogel, all of whom preceded him in death.

Wally grew up in Little Falls, Minnesota. He graduated from high school in Little Falls in 1949. He served in the United States Army from 1948 until he was honorably discharged in 1952. He worked in many different fields, including for Pfizer in New York City. He bought, restored and ran the Thayer Hotel in Annandale, and served as mayor for four years. Wally loved to build, restore and remodel houses. He and his son Steve completed over 50 remodeling projects over the years. He also built, owned and managed a number of subsidized housing projects in Minnesota. Wally had quite a few hobbies. He authored several books, the most recent being “We Survived Damned Near Everything,” for which he collaborated with his brother Larry and sister Clarice. He enjoyed wood carving, raising animals on his hobby farm, gardening and compiling the Houle family genealogy.

Wally married Dorothy Nordell in 1954. They had three sons, Stanley, Steven and Joel. Wally was an active member of the Clearwater United Methodist Church and a charter member of the Minnesota Council on Affordable Housing along with other civic organizations. After Dorothy’s death in 2001, Wally married Anne Renz of Clearwater.

Wally is survived by his spouse Anne of Clearwater, Minnesota; his sons Joel Houle of St. Cloud and Steven Houle of Clearwater, Christopher (Elizabeth) Renz of Minneapolis, David Renz of St. Peter; grandchildren Wendy (Nathan), Colin and Lucy; his great-granddaughter Lillian; and his well loved nieces and nephews and other relatives.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy, all of his siblings, and his oldest son Stan.

The family would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Quiet Oaks Hospice Home for the care and compassion they provided to Wally and our family.

A funeral service will be held at the Clearwater United Methodist Church, 405 Main Street, Clearwater at 10:30 am, on January 2nd 2016. Burial will follow the funeral at Acacia Cemetery, Clearwater. A light luncheon at the Eagle Trace Clubhouse, 1100 Main Street, Clearwater will follow the burial. Arrangements are with the Daniel Funeral Home, Clearwater.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Heifer International through the Clearwater United Methodist Church, 405 Main Street, Clearwater, Minnesota 55320 or Quiet Oaks Hospice Home PO Box 1241 St. Cloud, Minnesota 56302.